Electrical signaling device.



P. KAPLAN.

ELECTRICAL SIGNALING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 7. I911.

1 182,38 1 Patented May 9, 1916.

WITNESSES Tun-2 COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPM c0 WASHINGTON. D. 4:v

21111.12 Karmm, or new roan, N. Y.

nnn c'mrcat SIGNALING nnvrcn.

Specificationof Letters Patent.

Patented May 9, 1916.

Application filed April 7, 1911. Serial No. 619,468.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, PHILIP KAPLAN, a citizenof the United States, and resident of the borough of Brooklyn, county ofKings, city and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Electrical Signaling Devices, of which the following isa specification.

The object of this invention is two-fold, first in providing aconvenient and rapidly operating means for signaling the completion ofan operation and second indication that all is safe.

I have designed my device to be installed upon a train of cars ofgreater or less numher or even upon a single car and as a substitute forthe bell cord and bell with which it is usual to signal the operatorwhen all is ready to start the train.

In the present mode of operation if a door of one of the rearmost carsremain open no signal is passed but as soon as the door is closed andthe train is ready to advance it is necessary to signal from one car toanother until the bell at the forward end of the front car has beenpulled. This takes considerable time the loss of which would beunnecessary with a device of my description.

I provide two lamps, one red and one green which are arranged at aconvenient height in the compartment of the operator and I have soconnected my lamps that just so long as any of the doors remain openeven to a small extent the red light will burn brightly and the greenone not at all, but as soon as the last door has been closed the redlight will disappear and the green one will take its place.

Other advantages will appear as the specification progresses.

The following is what I consider the best means of carrying out thisinvention.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification, in which:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of certain portions of two carsshowing my device installed in operable position. Fig. 2 is a view on alarger scale of one of my peculiarly constructed switches. Fig. 3 is aView corresponding to Fig. 2 though with the switch differentlyconditioned.

Similar reference numerals indicate like parts in all the figures wherethey appear.

The under floor plans of two cars are shown at A and B, and the locationof the doors of each car are indicated by the location of the switches.I choose to show my device as connected to the numerous doors of a latetype of side door car. I will there: fore describe the location of sixswitching mechanisms and will show in my diagram the connections for sixdoors on each car.

Now referring to Fig. 1 it will be seen that I have numbered the doorsin series, commencing with one of the forward doors of the rear car andcontinuing around the car, the doors are numbered 2, 3, 4 5, 6, and 7respectively. The doors in the forward car are similarly numbered 8, 9,10, 11, 12 and 13 respectively. At 1Q I have shown an indicator at theforward end of the rear car and although only one of these are shown inuse I will describe my device in such a manner that the means forconnecting to any number of the operating booths will be readilyunderstood.

A double pole double throw switch is indicated at 18. One of theseswitches is placed in operative relation with each of the doors, but asthey are all of exactly similar construction and operation a detaileddescription of one will serve for the whole.

The casing 19 may be a casting or a stamping, it being a shallow oblongbox provided with the cover 20. Arranged within the box is a springoperated plunger 21 against the outer end of which the door will hearwhen closed. Guides 22 serve to retain the plunger in line and stop fins23 limit the extent of outward motion of the plunger. An inwardprojection 24, free to reciprocate between the pins 25, carries at itsinner end a pin 26 upon which is loosely secured the link 27 and thelever member 28. The lever mem ber 28 is centrally pivoted at 29 in sucha manner that when the plunger 21 projects from the casing theinsulating tip 30, upon the free end of the lever 28, will bear againstthe movable blade member 31 of a switch causing it to be pressed intocontact with the clips of the stationary member of the switch.

The link member 27 centrally pivoted at 33, engages with the levermember 34 at the sliding joint 35. The lever 34, is centrally pivotedinsures that when the lever member 28 is pressed into engagement closingthe switch which it operates, the insulating block 37 on the free end ofthe lever 34: will leave the movable member 38, of a switch arrangedadjacent to the block, thus allowing it by at 36, and thisconstructiontinuous through the whole train.

the action of the spring 39 to break the which must bear against oneside of the casing" 19, and the innermost end of the pro jection 24,insures that the plunger 21 will project from the casing 19 at all timesexcept when forcibly compressed by the pressure of the door against itsouter projecting end. It will be seen from this arrangement that whenthe plunger 21 protrudes from the casing, a contact will be made betweenthe parts 31 and 32, but when the plunger is compressed as is shown inFig. 2 a contact will be made between the parts 38and 40.

Now referring to the view in diagram shown in Fig. 1, 42 indicates aninsulated wire or cable continuous-through each car though with manybranches and by means of the connector and plug 44 made con- This I willterm the line lead and it may be connected to any convenient source ofsupply, such as the third rail or trolley or even an independent batterycircuit. A second trunk lead 45, also provided with a number ofbranches, extends the full length of the car or train, and terminates inone side of the red lamp 46. The other side of the red lamp :6, and oneside of the green lamp 47 are permanently grounded to the running gear,

if the third rail or trolley are used, or are connected to the otherside of the battery if an independent circuit be used. A branch lead 48,from the trunk 42, connects with the movable member 31 in the casing 19,and a lead from the adjacent stationary member 32 connects with thetrunk-45. this last lead is indicated at 49. A lead 51 connects themovable member 35 of each switch,

with the stationary member 40 of the switch in the next door 6. Theseconnections as I have described them are duplicated at each doorthroughout the train untilthe last door is reached when the whole switchis connected up exactly like the others except that the lead from themovable member 38 is connected with the vgreen lamp 47.

A close study of the wiring as it is shown and described will revealthat the red lamp is connected in multiple with each of the parts 31 and32 of each switch, and that the green lamp and the parts 38 and 40 ofthe switch are in'series. It will be seen then thatas soon as any dooris open even to a'small extent the circuit controlling the green lampwill be open, and the circuit controlling the red lamp will be closed.Closing all of the doors will cause the circuit of the red lamp to beopened, and the circuit of the green lamp to be completed, thus showingthat .all is safe.

Modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claimswithout de parting from the principle or sacrificing the advantages ofthis invention.

I have described my device as arranged in operation with doors, it isobvious that it willserve equally well with gates.

Having carefully and fully described my invention, what I claim anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A train signal comprising a plurality of electrical conductors, asource of electrical supply and a plurality of lamps in independentcircuits, a plurality of double acting current interrupters arranged insaid circuits, one side of each current interrupter being arranged inseries with one of said lamps the other side of each current interrupterbeing arranged in multiple with each other and in series with the otherlamp as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A train signal comprising a plurality of electrical conductors, asource of 816C? trical supply and a plurality of lamps in independentcircuits, a plurality of. double acting current interrupters arranged insaid.

PHILIP KAPLAN- itnesses: ARTHUR PHELPS MARR, G. E. STERRETTE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissloner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

